A Ride Behind Locomotive No. 611 - "The Queen of Steam"

In this video, we enjoy a ride behind the Norfolk and Western No. 611, on Strasburg Rail Road's excursion through the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside. No. 611 is the sole survivor of the class J steam locomotives. Built in 1950, she hauled the N&W's premier passenger trains between Norfolk, Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as Southern Railway's passenger trains between Lynchburg, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee. After retirement in 1959, No. 611 served as a steam generator at the East End Shops, before being donated to the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) in Roanoke, VA. Through the years, besides time in the VMT, it ran excursions for the NS steam program throughout the eastern U.S. in the 1980s and early 1990s. It returned to excursion service in 2015 after restoration, and Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services recently finished its FRA inspection and maintenance to its boiler staybolts, allowing it to return to service for this beautiful day in November 2022.

[@derankso246]

Wait, so steam locomotives were still used today?

[@edwinschwartz2472]

For excursions only in U.S.

[@edwinschwartz2472]

Love that steam whistle echo at 7:40 !